Jack (1996)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers (WGA):

James DeMonaco (written by) &
Gary Nadeau (written by)

Release Date:

9 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Jack Powell is about to tackle his biggest adventure ever... the fifth grade!

Plot:

Because of an unusual aging disorder that has aged him four times faster than a normal human being, a boy enters the fifth grade for the first time with the appearance of a 40 year old man.

Plot Keywords:

Aging Disorder | Youth | Disease | Premature Birth | Heart Attack

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Jack Charles Powell
Diane Lane	...	Karen Powell
Brian Kerwin	...	Brian Powell
Jennifer Lopez	...	Miss Marquez
Bill Cosby	...	Lawrence Woodruff
Fran Drescher	...	Dolores 'D.D.' Durante
Adam Zolotin	...	Louis 'Louie' Durante
Todd Bosley	...	Eddie
Seth Smith	...	John-John
Mario Yedidia	...	George
Jeremy Lelliott	...	Johnny Duffer
Jurnee Smollett	...	Phoebe
Dani Faith	...	Jane
Hugo Hernandez	...	Victor
Rickey D'Shon Collins	...	Eric

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate no. 34700) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Brazil:10 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Mare Island, Vallejo, California, USA

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

Tom Hanks was the original choice for the lead role because of his performance in Big (1988).

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In classroom scene when Jack is being introduced to the class.

Quotes:

Lawrence Woodruff: Do you know why I teach, Jack?
Jack: No.
Lawrence Woodruff: Well, I teach, not to pass on knowledge, not to produce great people, but because I enjoy meeting young people and being around them. And, Jack, you were my most exceptional pupil. Because even being what you are, you still had a desire to learn. Now, tell me, have you ever seen a shooting star, Jack?
[Jack shakes his head]
Lawrence Woodruff: No?... Well, they're very rare. They're seen in the sky for only a very brief time. But when they appear, they are so bright, and so brilliant, that all the other normal stars just stand still, and watch that star as it passes among them.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Early Edition: The Choice (#1.2)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Reunited

Interesting Coppola movie

"Jack" is a silly, genial and charming story about a "little" boy who ages four times faster than he should. It's a tragedy disguised as comedy. It has some comic elements but who couldn't admit the basic idea is rather sad. "Jack" is the kind of a film you least expect from the man who directed violent crime, war and horror masterpieces "The Godfather" -trilogy, "Apocalypse Now" and "Dracula". Nevertheless it's one of the most personal projects of Francis Ford Coppola since his own son died at an early age. Even though this is not a classic Coppola movie it's definitely classic role from Robin Williams.

It's hard to think of another actor to play the part of a ten year old boy who looks like a man of middle age. Williams really relieved the child inside of him. Bill Cosby is also splendid as Jack's sympathetic teacher Woodruff. For the sake of comparison I might mention that Penny Marshall's "Big" starring Tom Hanks is an outstanding, heart-warming classic and I've seen it many, many, many times but it's hard to get tired of a movie that's simply so enjoyable and entertaining. "Jack" is watchable once or probably even twice but unfortunately it doesn't come even close to "Big's" glamour. "Jack" has a good idea and yet another excellent performance from Williams but it's a movie that just might have been even better.